Author Background: born Monroeville, Alabama in 1926 ~ father was a small town lawyer ~ had a childhood friend who became a famous author~ A trial in Scottsboro, Alabama a large affect on her life and the book~
Character Sketch:
Protagonist: Scout
1. Short, straight, and dirty blond hair, green eyes, tom boy body structure, and a kissed by the sun skin tone.
2. She speaks bluntly, intelligently, but not tactfully.
3. She does what a little boy would do.
4. She thinks that they should not be messing with Boo Radley, school has no purpose, reading is wonderful, and playing outside is normal for a little girl.
5. Jem and Dill think she acts too girlish, but all other people think she is not girlish enough. People think she needs to stop fighting physically with people.
6. Other people treat her as insignificant and as a child.
7. She is usually found outside playing or with Jem. The setting usually entails the woods.
8. She is intelligent for her age, has an innocence about her, and likes to do more boyish things than girlish.
Antagonist: Aunt Alexandria
1.Shorter, wavy, and red hair, brown eyes, medium height, and lanky. She is a modern women of the time.
2. She speaks as if better than everyone else and with poise.
3. She acts in the best interest in her family's name, and punishes those who discredit her family name.
4.She thinks that a good reputation is the way of life, and dislikes anything outside of normal.
5.Other characters say she is mad, crazy, and mean, most tend to not like her.
6. Other characters tend to respect her when they are in her presence, but when they are not in her presence discredit her.
7.She is usually found in her house, that has been passed down throughout the generations to her.
8. She is an older lady who doesn't appreciate her brothers' because they persuded other professions other than work on the family farm.
Summary Chapter 1-10:
The characters include Scout, Jem, Atticus, Calpurnia, Dill, Boo Radley, Mrs. Dubose, Miss Maudie, Miss Caroline, Mr. Nathan Radley, Francis, Aunt Alexandria, and Uncle Jack. This story takes place in a small town in Alabama in the 1920's. The Finch family is the focus of the story. Scout and Jem have a very close relationship, which results Scout modeling her life after Jem. Scout and Jem go to school during school months, and play with Dill in the summer. Scout doesn't like going to school because she was ridiculed for showing off her intelligence. The three make mischief in the town and like to mess with Boo Radley. The town looks down upon the Radley's for being abnormaldue to their taboo social elements. Scout enjoys spending time with Miss Maudie. Miss Maudie's house starts on fire one one cold winter night, and she has to build a new one. Scout, Jem, and Dill find valuable items in a tree at the Radley's house, but one day they find it full of cement. Atticus is a lawyer and takes a case of defending an African American man, and him and his family are ridiculed for it.
Tree full of cement
Tree with foil
House on fire
Symbolism
One symbol in the book is the Miss Maudie's house on fire, because it shows the evolution of time.
The presence of objects in the tree represents Boo Radley's desire for friendship.
The First Purchase represents the two communities in Maycomb, black vs white.
The school represents discipline in a child's life.
The courthouse represents the distortion of justice.
Conflicts
Person vs Society: Tom vs Maycomb's racists, Tom has to prove his innocence to a racist town. (Tom is black)
Person vs Self: Jem vs self, Jem was trying to cope with the reality of the racism of the town.
Person vs Person: Atticus vs Bob Ewell, Atticus demoralizes Bob in court, and Bob threatens Atticus.
Person vs Fate: Scout and Jem's fate, Scout and Jem's loss of innocence.
What elements make this a good book?
The busy plot kept us compelled and interested throughout the book.
What would make this book better?
This would be a better book if Jem had seen Boo Radley and Boo had been more active in society after the attack.
What is the one most important thing the author wants you to know?
The most critical theme of this book is discrimination resulting from both racism and fear of someone.
What does the audience need to know to understand the book?
The audience needs to know the time period and the moods, attitudes, and personalities of the time period.
What is your overall recommendation?
We would recommend this book to seventh grade and up.
Harper Lee
Author Background: born Monroeville, Alabama in 1926 ~ father was a small town lawyer ~ had a childhood friend who became a famous author~ A trial in Scottsboro, Alabama a large affect on her life and the book~
Character Sketch:
Protagonist: Scout
1. Short, straight, and dirty blond hair, green eyes, tom boy body structure, and a kissed by the sun skin tone.
2. She speaks bluntly, intelligently, but not tactfully.
3. She does what a little boy would do.
4. She thinks that they should not be messing with Boo Radley, school has no purpose, reading is wonderful, and playing outside is normal for a little girl.
5. Jem and Dill think she acts too girlish, but all other people think she is not girlish enough. People think she needs to stop fighting physically with people.
6. Other people treat her as insignificant and as a child.
7. She is usually found outside playing or with Jem. The setting usually entails the woods.
8. She is intelligent for her age, has an innocence about her, and likes to do more boyish things than girlish.
Antagonist: Aunt Alexandria
1.Shorter, wavy, and red hair, brown eyes, medium height, and lanky. She is a modern women of the time.
2. She speaks as if better than everyone else and with poise.
3. She acts in the best interest in her family's name, and punishes those who discredit her family name.
4.She thinks that a good reputation is the way of life, and dislikes anything outside of normal.
5.Other characters say she is mad, crazy, and mean, most tend to not like her.
6. Other characters tend to respect her when they are in her presence, but when they are not in her presence discredit her.
7.She is usually found in her house, that has been passed down throughout the generations to her.
8. She is an older lady who doesn't appreciate her brothers' because they persuded other professions other than work on the family farm.
Summary Chapter 1-10:
The characters include Scout, Jem, Atticus, Calpurnia, Dill, Boo Radley, Mrs. Dubose, Miss Maudie, Miss Caroline, Mr. Nathan Radley, Francis, Aunt Alexandria, and Uncle Jack. This story takes place in a small town in Alabama in the 1920's. The Finch family is the focus of the story. Scout and Jem have a very close relationship, which results Scout modeling her life after Jem. Scout and Jem go to school during school months, and play with Dill in the summer. Scout doesn't like going to school because she was ridiculed for showing off her intelligence. The three make mischief in the town and like to mess with Boo Radley. The town looks down upon the Radley's for being abnormaldue to their taboo social elements. Scout enjoys spending time with Miss Maudie. Miss Maudie's house starts on fire one one cold winter night, and she has to build a new one. Scout, Jem, and Dill find valuable items in a tree at the Radley's house, but one day they find it full of cement. Atticus is a lawyer and takes a case of defending an African American man, and him and his family are ridiculed for it.
Symbolism
One symbol in the book is the Miss Maudie's house on fire, because it shows the evolution of time.
The presence of objects in the tree represents Boo Radley's desire for friendship.
The First Purchase represents the two communities in Maycomb, black vs white.
The school represents discipline in a child's life.
The courthouse represents the distortion of justice.
Conflicts
Person vs Society: Tom vs Maycomb's racists, Tom has to prove his innocence to a racist town. (Tom is black)
Person vs Self: Jem vs self, Jem was trying to cope with the reality of the racism of the town.
Person vs Person: Atticus vs Bob Ewell, Atticus demoralizes Bob in court, and Bob threatens Atticus.
Person vs Fate: Scout and Jem's fate, Scout and Jem's loss of innocence.
What elements make this a good book?
The busy plot kept us compelled and interested throughout the book.
What would make this book better?
This would be a better book if Jem had seen Boo Radley and Boo had been more active in society after the attack.
What is the one most important thing the author wants you to know?
The most critical theme of this book is discrimination resulting from both racism and fear of someone.
What does the audience need to know to understand the book?
The audience needs to know the time period and the moods, attitudes, and personalities of the time period.
What is your overall recommendation?
We would recommend this book to seventh grade and up.